Damping mechanical linkage

Abstract

A mechanical linkage includes first and second end members and a pair of generally parallel arcuate beams, interconnecting the end members and defining a lateral space therebetween. A plurality of alternating fingers extend from each beam into the lateral space, and a damping member is attached between each adjacent pair of fingers within the lateral space.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of manufacturing a damping structural member, comprising:
 attaching a pair of generally parallel, oppositely curved arcuate beams between end members of a damping linkage, in alignment with a load axis of the damping structural member, the end members being disposed at opposing longitudinal ends of the beams, the beams configured to laterally deflect away from each other under a compressive load applied to the end members, and to laterally deflect toward each other under a tensile load applied to the end members; 
 attaching at least one finger to each arcuate beam, the fingers oriented generally transverse to the load axis and extending into a lateral space between the pair of beams in an alternating, interleaved configuration; and 
 attaching a viscoelastic damping material between adjacent pairs of the fingers, the viscoelastic damping material configured to resist opposing lateral motion of the fingers due to the lateral deflection of the beams, to thereby absorb a portion of the axial load upon the mechanical linkage. 
 
     
     
       2. A method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein attaching the at least one finger to each arcuate beam comprises integrally attaching the fingers to the respective arcuate beam. 
     
     
       3. A method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein attaching the arcuate beams to the end members comprises integrally attaching the arcuate beams to the end members. 
     
     
       4. A method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein attaching at least one finger to each arcuate beam comprises attaching an equal number of fingers to each beam, the fingers extending into the lateral space, and wherein attaching the viscoelastic damping material between the fingers comprises adhesively bonding the viscoelastic damping material to adjacent fingers. 
     
     
       5. A method in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising providing a cover around the beams, the fingers and the damping material. 
     
     
       6. A method in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein providing the cover comprises providing a shrink-wrapped polymer or a heat-shrink tube around the around the beams, the fingers and the damping material and at least a portion of the end members. 
     
     
       7. A method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein attaching the at least one finger to each arcuate beam comprises attaching the fingers to the respective arcuate beam with a pinned attachment. 
     
     
       8. A method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein attaching the arcuate beams to the end members comprises attaching the arcuate beams to the end members with a pinned attachment. 
     
     
       9. A method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein attaching the pair of oppositely curved arcuate beams comprises attaching beams that define oppositely oriented arcs having an arch rise of from about 0.1 to about 3. 
     
     
       10. A method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein attaching the pair of oppositely curved arcuate beams comprises attaching beams that have a substantially constant cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
       11. A method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein attaching the viscoelastic damping material between the fingers comprises attaching a viscoelastic material selected from the group consisting of constrained layer damping polymer, chlorosulfonated polyethylene synthetic rubber and polychloroprene. 
     
     
       12. A method of manufacturing a damping structural member, comprising:
 aligning a pair of generally parallel, oppositely outwardly curved arcuate beams with a load axis of the damping structural member, with a lateral space between the beams; 
 attaching end members to opposing longitudinal ends of the beams, whereby the beams laterally deflect away from each other under a compressive load applied to the end members, and laterally deflect toward each other under a tensile load applied to the end members; 
 attaching a plurality of fingers to each arcuate beam, the fingers oriented generally transverse to the load axis and extending into the lateral space in an alternating, interleaved configuration; and 
 bonding a viscoelastic damping material between adjacent pairs of the fingers, the viscoelastic damping material configured to resist opposing lateral motion of the fingers due to the lateral deflection of the beams, to thereby absorb a portion of the load upon the mechanical linkage. 
 
     
     
       13. A method in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein attaching the plurality of fingers to each arcuate beam comprises integrally attaching the fingers to the respective arcuate beam. 
     
     
       14. A method in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein attaching the end members to the arcuate beams comprises integrally attaching the end members to the arcuate beams. 
     
     
       15. A method in accordance with  claim 12 , further comprising providing a cover around the beams, the fingers, the damping material and at least a portion of the end members. 
     
     
       16. A method in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein aligning the pair of oppositely curved arcuate beams comprises aligning beams that define oppositely oriented arcs having an arch rise of from about 0.1 to about 3. 
     
     
       17. A method in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein bonding the viscoelastic damping material between the fingers comprises bonding a viscoelastic material selected from the group consisting of constrained layer damping polymer, chlorosulfonated polyethylene synthetic rubber and polychloroprene. 
     
     
       18. A method of manufacturing a damping structural member, comprising:
 attaching a pair of generally parallel, oppositely outwardly curved arcuate beams between end members of a damping linkage with a lateral space therebetween and in alignment with a load axis of the linkage; 
 attaching a plurality of fingers to each arcuate beam, the fingers oriented generally transverse to the load axis and extending into the lateral space in an alternating, interleaved configuration; and 
 attaching a viscoelastic damping material between adjacent pairs of the fingers, the viscoelastic damping material configured to resist opposing lateral motion of the fingers due to opposing deflection of the arcuate beams under compressive or tensile loads upon the end members. 
 
     
     
       19. A method in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein attaching the plurality of fingers to each arcuate beam and attaching the arcuate beams to the end members comprises integrally attaching the fingers to the respective arcuate beam and integrally attaching the arcuate beams to the end members. 
     
     
       20. A method in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein attaching the viscoelastic damping material between the fingers comprises bonding a viscoelastic material selected from the group consisting of constrained layer damping polymer, chlorosulfonated polyethylene synthetic rubber and polychloroprene, between each pair of adjacent fingers.